One of Italy's most wanted fugitives was arrested Tuesday near the Sicilian village of Corleone after more than four decades on the run.

Bernardo Provenzano, 73, offered no resistance when police raided a farmhouse near the village, about 60 kilometres south of the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/pix/provenzano_b_cp__9818549.jpg
Provenzano, shown in a computer generated image, was known as the 'Phantom of Corleone' because he'd been in hiding since 1963. (Alessandro Fucarini/AP)

Known as the "Phantom of Corleone," police say Provenzano has run the Sicilian Mafia since former boss Salvatore "Toto" Riina was arrested in 1993.

News of the arrest bumped the results of Italy's election from the top spot on television news programs.

In hiding since 1963, Provenzano had been sentenced in absentia to life in prison for a number of crimes.

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi issued a statement expressing his delight over the arrest.

Provenzano joined the Corleone clan as a teenager and rose through the ranks as a mob killer, gaining the nickname "The Tractor" for the way he mowed down his victims.

The last photo police had of Provenzano was taken when he was 25 years old. Investigators sought him using computer programs to depict him at older ages, as well as information from turncoat members of the Mafia.

Provenzano became legendary for his ability to evade capture while living for decades around his hometown of Corleone, a village made famous by the Godfather films.

His wife and children live in Corleone, where they have operated a laundromat since 1992.

with the real one
http://www.repubblica.it/2003/e/gallerie/cronaca/provenzano-questura/ap79477411104175011_big.jpg

that's unbelievable how well police worked with the computer... :worship:

Kunal

Apr 12th, 2006, 05:54 PM

its pretty cool u know...its like reality meets fantasy,,,, what with the 'corleone' name involved....

cant believe he evaded the cops for soooo long

Helen Lawson

Apr 12th, 2006, 05:55 PM

He looks like some dork who works out at my gym.

John A Roark

Apr 12th, 2006, 09:01 PM

Cowardly thugs all; no Mafiosi ever had a snowball's chance of an authentic life.
We could not get so lucky that they should all commit suicide.
There are too many of the brain-damaged, get-rich-quick leeches to kill.
Anyone that thinks the Mafia is 'cool' is as brain-damaged as they are.